TNAG-2129-FCO40-3044-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 112

RESTRICTED

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 74

OF 060500Z JANUARY 90

RESTRICTED

HKCSI

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

17 JAN 1990

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

REGISTRY

PA

Action Taken

171781

MDLIAN 8408

TOP COPY DIST ?

YOUR TELNO 26: IVORY

WE ARE FAXING THE RELEVANT PRESS ARTICLE TO HOLROYDE, HKD. THERE ARE INDEED THREE CASES IN WHICH EXPORT LICENCES HAVE BEEN PREPARED FOR IVORY CONSIGNED TO COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE BANNED IVORY IMPORTS. NO SUCH IVORY HAS, SO FAR, BEEN EXPORTED. DETAILS:

.

(A) TO JAPAN: ONE FRENCH-OWNED CONSIGNMENT OF 1,039 KG OF RAW

IVORY ORIGINALLY IMPORTED FOR SALE TO A HONG KONG TRADER IN AUGUST 1989 THE3 SALE DID NOT GO THROUGH LEAVING THE FRENCH OWNER TO FIND A PURCHASER ELSEWHERE. THE LICENCE HAS NOT YET BEEN COLLECTED FROM THE HKMA:

(B)

TO FRG: TWO LOCALLY-OWNED CONSIGNMENTS OF WORKED IVORY (NETSUKE, BRACELETS, COMBS AND TOOTHPICKS) TOTALLING 5.6 KG. BOTH LICENCES HAVE BEEN ISSUED AND SUBSEQUENTLY RETURNED

FOR CANCELLATION.

2.

OUR POSITION IN GRANTING EXPORT LICENCES IS THAT PROVIDED THE

IVORY CONCERNED HAS BEEN LEGALLY ACQUIRED AND IS LEGALLY HELD IN HONG KONG, THEN WE HAVE A DUTY TO EXAMINE ALL APPLICATIONS FOR EXPORT LICENCES ON THEIR OWN MERITS. UNDER THE CITES RULES, GIVEN THAT THE ELEPHANT REMAINS FOR THE MOMENT IN APPENDIX II, THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR US TO CONSIDER THE STATED DESTINATION AS A

MATERIAL FACTOR. IT IS UP TO THE EXPORTER TO ARRANGE FOR THE IMPORT

OF THE IVORY INTO THE COUNTRY OF DESTINATION.

WILSON

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